Primary Election Sept. 4, 2018
LWV-Needham has assembled information from the Needham Town Clerk’s and Secretary of the Commonwealth’s websites. The Town Clerk and the Secretary of the Commonwealth are the primary sources for information on voting and elections.
Am I registered? Affiliated with a party? What’s on my ballot?
All of these questions can be answered at this link. Enter your name, date of birth, and zip code. In response you will find out:
- Your voting status
- Party affiliation
- Who’s on your September 4 ballot
- Where to vote
- Your statewide and district office holders
Who can vote in the primary?
In Massachusetts, all registered voters may vote in the primary. A voter who is affiliated with a political party can vote only in that party’s primary. If a voter is unaffiliated with a political party, he or she may vote in the primary of his or her choice, just request Republican or Democrat ballot when you get to the polls. Check your party affiliation. You can change your party affiliation for the Sept. 4 primary by August 15. Change your affiliation (to a party or to “unaffiliated”). Your 9-character RMV ID number (Driver’s License, Learner’s Permit, State ID) is required to make the change online. In person by August 15 at the Needham Town Clerk’s Office. There will be a special voter registration session at the Town Clerk’s Office from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on August 15. Needham Town Hall 1471 Highland Ave. Needham, MA 02492.
What will Needham voters be voting on?
Party nominees for all statewide and district offices.
What are the contested primaries (more than one candidate for the nomination)?
Republican—Statewide US Senator Governor Attorney General Republican—District None Democrat—Statewide Governor Lieutenant Governor Secretary of State Democrat —District Representative to US Congress State Senator (Needham precincts A,B,C,I,J) State Representative August 15 is the deadline to register to vote, change your address, and/or change party affiliation.
Meet the Candidates for Contested Needham District Primary Races
Democratic party nominee in the US House of Representatives. Joe Kennedy, the incumbent, will face challenger Gary Rucinski. There is no Republican primary candidate, so this primary election will decide who our Representative to Congress will be. LWV-Needham and other Leagues are holding an in-studio candidate forum for this race on August 10. The forum will be available on demand at this site and will be shown on the Needham Channel. Democratic party nominee for State Representative. Denise Garlick, the incumbent, will face challenger Ted Steinberg, both from Needham. There is no Republican primary candidate, so this election will decide who our State Representative will be. LWV-Needham is holding an in-person candidate forum for this primary race on Monday, August 13 at 7 pm at the Needham Public Library. The Democratic party nominee for State Senate (precincts A, B, C, I and J). The candidates are: Kris Aleksov of Wayland, Jackie Katz of Norfolk and Becca Rausch of Needham. These candidates will also participate at the August 13 candidate forum. The winner will face incumbent Richard Ross, who does not have a challenger in the Republican primary. These candidates will also meet at the August 13 forum.
Ask the candidates a question
Email voterservice2@lwv-needham.org. Specify which office the question is for. All questions will be asked of both candidates.
Absentee Voting
In order to be eligible to vote by absentee ballot in Massachusetts, a voter must be prevented from voting at their polling place on Election Day, due to:
- Absence from the voter’s city or town on Election Day; or
- Physical disability; or
- Religious belief.
To vote Absentee, if eligible, you must:
- Be registered to vote*.
- Apply for an absentee ballot from the city or town where you are registered using the Absentee Ballot Application Form (a family member may apply for you).
- Once the Absentee Ballot is received, complete the Ballot and return it to the city or town where you are registered to vote.
You can accomplish all three steps above with a visit to the Town Clerk’s Office prior to August 15!
Registered voters can apply for an Absentee Ballot, receive it, and vote in one visit to the Needham Town Clerk. The last day to apply for an absentee ballot for the State Primary is 5 PM on Friday, August 31.
Download the Absentee Ballot Application. See page 2 for full instructions. https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/absentee/English-Absentee-Ballot-Application.pdf
*Or a non-registered voter:
- Absent from the state;
- An active member of the armed forces or a member of the merchant marines, their spouse or dependents;
- A person confined to a correctional facility or jail for reasons other than felony conviction.
The last day to register to vote or change party affiliation for the State Primary on September 4 is August 15. There will be a special voter registration session at the Needham Town Hall on Wednesday, August 15, 2018 from 9am to 8pm.
If you are applying for a ballot and voting by mail, plan ahead. Request the ballot as soon as possible and return it well in advance of election day, September 4. Absentee ballots must be received by the close of polls (8:00 pm) on Election Day.
Questions about Absentee Voting for Needham voters should be directed to the Needham Town Clerk’s Office 781-455-7500, ext. 216, 218, 219, 252.